FDX - Formable Duplex

Stainless Steel

Steel grades

Outokumpu

EN

UNS

FDX 25

1.4635*

S82012**

FDX 27

1.4637*

S82031**

Applications

*Designation according to Stahl Eisen Liste (Register of European Steels).

** Included in ASTM A240

General characteristics
Ferritic-austenitic stainless steels, also referred to as duplex stainless steels, combine many of the beneficial properties of ferritic
and austenitic steels. Due to the relatively high content of chromium and nitrogen, these steels offer good resistance to localized
and uniform corrosion.
The new FDX product family exhibits a unique combination of
high strength and substantially improved formability utilizing Transformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP). Characteristic properties are:

Good fatigue resistance

High energy absorption
Low thermal expansion
Good weldability

Increased formability compared to other duplex grades

High mechanical strength
Good resistance to uniform corrosion
Good resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion
High resistance to stress corrosion cracking and corrosion fatigue
Good abrasion and erosion resistance

The FDX family provides a totally new stainless steel solution for
applications where the formability of other duplex grades is not
sufficient or limits the design efficiency. Examples of potential
applications are given below:

Plate heat exchangers

Flexible pipes
Pump components
Components for automotive industry
Components for structural design
Domestic heating piping
Forming intensive components

Chemical composition
The range in chemical composition according to Stahl Eisen Liste
(Register of European Steels) and ASTM A240 of FDX 25 and
FDX 27 is shown in Table 1.

Chemical composition

Table 1

Chemical composition, % by wt. Typical values1

Outokumpu
Steel name

EN

ASTM/UNS

Cr

Ni

Mo

Others

FDX 25

1.4635

S82012

0.05

0.16-0.26

19.0-20.5

0.8-1.5

0.1-0.6

2.0-4.0Mn

1.4637

S82031

0.04

0.14-0.24

19.0-22.0

2.0-4.0

0.6-1.4

2.5Mn

1.4162

S32101

0.03

0.22

21.5

1.5

0.3

5Mn

1.4362

S32304

0.02

0.10

23.0

4.8

0.3

Cu

4307

1.4307

304L

0.02

18.1

8.1

4404

1.4404

316L

0.02

17.2

10.1

FDX 27
LDX 2101
2304

2.1

For FDX 25 and FDX 27 the range in chemical composition is given. 2Also available as EDX 2304 with modified composition for enhanced properties.

FDX - Formable Duplex Stainless Steel - 1

Microstructure

Mechanical properties

The chemical composition of duplex steels is generally balanced

to give approximately equal amounts of ferrite and austenite in
solution-annealed condition. For the FDX family, the composition is balanced to give an optimal austenite stability leading to a
controlled transformation of austenite to martensite during cold
forming operations (so-called TRIP). Typically, the austenite content
in the solution annealed condition is slightly higher for the FDX
grades than for other duplex grades.
The FDX alloys are not sensitive to sigma phase formation.
However, like all duplex grades they are more prone to precipitation of nitrides and carbides than the corresponding austenitic
steels. Due to the risk of 475C embrittlement that occurs for
the duplex grades, FDX alloys should be used with caution at
temperatures above 250C.

Table 2 shows the mechanical properties for flat rolled products.

Data according to ASTM A 240 when applicable. Data for FDX 25
and FDX 27 are according to the internal standards AM 612 and
AM 613 respectively.

Mechanical properties, room temperature

Outokumpu
Steel name

Table 2

Typical values1 (1 mm)

Minimum values2

Rp0.2

Rm

A50

Rp0.2

Rm

A50

MPa

MPa

MPa

MPa

FDX 25

600

800

40

500

700

35

FDX 27

620

810

38

500

700

35

LDX 2101

610

810

30

530

700

30

2304

620

790

27

400

600

25

4307

300

600

52

170

485

40

4404

290

590

46

170

485

40

Typical values for FDX 25 and FDX 27 are in the process of being established. Minimum values according to ASTM A 240, for coil and strip 5 mm.

Fabrication
Cold forming
The high proof strength of duplex stainless steel compared to
austenitic and ferritic stainless steel can impose some differences
in forming behaviour depending on chosen forming technique. The
impact of the high strength varies for different forming techniques.
Common for all is that the estimated forming forces will be higher
than for the corresponding austenitic and ferritic stainless steel
grades. This effect will usually be lower than expected from just
the increase in strength since the choice of duplex stainless steel
is often associated with down gauging.
FDX 25 and FDX 27 have excellent formability properties in comparison to other duplex stainless steels such as LDX
2101 and 2304 and close to standard austenitic stainless steels
such as 4307 and 4404. The TRIP effect offers a balanced work
hardening rate resulting in an enhanced uniform elongation and
higher work hardening ratio at large (plastic) deformations in
comparison to other duplex grades. These remarkable mechanical
properties make the FDX grades more suitable for manufacturing
of components with stretch forming as the primary forming operation. As for most of the duplex stainless steels, the Lankford values
(r-values) are less than 1.0 in transversal direction but always larger
than 0.4.

2 - FDX - Formable Duplex Stainless Steel

Figure 1 shows the elongation versus the proof strength for different
types of stainless steels, illustrating that the FDX grades form a
type of group with unique combination of properties.

Proof strength, MPa

850
750

FDX 27
650
550

FDX 25

Duplex
grades

450

Austenitic
grades

350

Ferritic
grades

250
20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

Elongation A50, %

Figure 1. Elongation versus proof strength for different types of stainless steels.
Typical values for cold rolled coil and sheet.

components to be formed predominantly by deep drawing can

almost be designed as those made in standard austenitic stainless
steels with good results. Moreover, physical try-outs verify that the
FDX grades are suitable for forming intensive component such as
heat exchanger plates. Outokumpu, Avesta Research Centre can
support customers in detailed computer analyses of the impact on
the forming process of the FDX grades.

Relatively formability, plane strain condition

1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4

Welding

0.2
0
FDX 25*

FDX 27*

LDX 2101

2304

4307

4404

Figure 2. Formability ranking of the austenitic grade 4404 and some duplex
grades in relation to the austenitic grade 4307. *Preliminary data.

The key advantage of FDX 25 and FDX 27 compared to other

duplex grades is that they are more adaptable to various forming
processes since they have far better formability. For example,

Trials, qualified welders and procedures are natural parts of professional welding, with this in place duplex stainless steels are readily
weldable using most of the welding methods used for austenitic stainless steels, FDX 25TM and FDX 27TM are no exceptions.
The TRIP effect in FDX 25TM and FDX 27TM will be present but to
a lower degree when welding autogenously and the effect will not
be present when welding with a filler material. The general welding
recommendations for duplex grades should be followed, e.g. the
use of nitrogen based shielding gas which will enhance the properties of the joint.

Welding consumables

Table 3

Typical composition, % by wt.

Steel grade

Consumable
ISO Designation

Cr

Ni

Mo

FDX 25

22 9 3 NL

0.02

22.5

8.5

3.0

0.15

FDX 27

22 9 3 NL

0.02

22.5

8.5

3.0

0.15

Post fabrication treatment

Uniform corrosion

In order to restore the stainless steel surface and achieve good

corrosion resistance after fabrication, it is often necessary to
perform a post fabrication treatment. There are many different
methods available, both mechanical methods such as brushing,
blasting and grinding and chemical methods, e.g. pickling. Which
method to apply depend on what consequences the fabrication caused, i.e. what type of imperfections to be removed, but
also on requirements with regard to corrosion resistance, hygienic
demands and aesthetic appearance. Vigorous mechanical cleaning
like heavy grinding and shot blasting should be avoided for
FDX 25 and FDX 27, as this can affect the corrosion resistance
negatively. Chemical cleaning is always preferred for optimal
corrosion resistance.

Uniform corrosion is characterized by a uniform attack on the

steel surface that has come into contact with a corrosive medium.
Uniform corrosion data in various solutions based on the MTI-1
procedure are shown in Table 4. The results are presented as the
critical temperature (C) where the corrosion rate exceeds 0.127
mm/year in the test solution.

Corrosion resistance
The duplex grades provide in general a wide range of corrosion
resistance in various environments. However, as the increased
formability of FDX 25 and FDX 27 is based on the TRIP-effect,
there could be a risk that the deformation has a slight negative
effect on the corrosion properties of the formable duplex grades
FDX 25 and FDX 27. All investigations and data presented in
this data sheet are from non-deformed flat specimens.

FDX - Formable Duplex Stainless Steel - 3

Critical temperatures in selected solutions prescribed by MTI-1

Table 4

Outokumpu steel name

Test solution

FDX 25

FDX 27

LDX 2101

2304

4307

4404

0.2 % HCl

>100 (b.p.)

>100 (b.p.)

>100 (b.p.)

>100 (b.p.)

>100 (b.p.)

>100 (b.p.)

1 % HCl

30

65

55

70

30p*

30

10 % H2SO4

30

45

75

70

25

40

10 % H2SO4 + 2000 ppm Cl -

20

25

40

< 10

N.T.

25

96 % H2SO4

20

20

30

35

15

45

85 % H3PO4

90

85

100

90

80

95

WPA 1

40p*

60p*

60

60

< 10

< 10

10 % HNO3

>100 (b.p.)

>100 (b.p.)

>100 (b.p.)

>100 (b.p.)

>100 (b.p.)

>100 (b.p.)

65 % HNO3

90

95

105

90

100

90

50 % HCOOH

65

75

95

85

< 10

40

50 % NaOH

75

80

85

100

85

90

b.p. = boiling point

N.T. = not tested
* Pitting attack may occur at lower temperature than the critical

Chemical composition of simulated wet process phosphoric acid (WPA)

Table 5

Chemical composition, % by weight

WPA 1

H3PO4

Cl-

F-

H2SO4

Fe2O3

Al2O3

SiO2

CaO

MgO

75

0.2

0.5

4.0

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.2

0.7

Pitting and crevice corrosion

The resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion increases with the
content of chromium, molybdenum and nitrogen in the steel. This
is often illustrated by the pitting resistance equivalent (PRE) for the
material, which can be calculated by using the formula:
PRE = %Cr + 3.3 x %Mo + 16 x %N
PRE values for different grades are presented in Table 5. The
PRE value can be used for a rough comparison between different
materials.
A much more reliable way of ranking steels is according to the
critical pitting temperature (CPT). Typical critical pitting corrosion
temperature data (CPT) in 1M NaCl, measured according to ASTM
G 150 by using the Avesta Cell, is presented in Figure 3. Test
surfaces are wet ground to P320 mesh. CPT varies with product
form and surface finish.

Stress corrosion cracking

Stainless steel can be affected by stress corrosion cracking (SCC)
in chloride containing environments at elevated temperatures.
Standard austenitic stainless steels are particularly vulnerable to
stress corrosion cracking while stainless steels of the duplex type
are less susceptible to this type of corrosion.
Different methods are used to rank stainless steel grades with
regard to their resistance to stress corrosion cracking and results
may vary depending on the test method as well as test environment. In Table 7 a comparison is given of the stress corrosion
cracking resistance of standard austenitic stainless steels and
duplex stainless steels.
Duplex stainless steels withstand stress corrosion cracking
under many conditions where standard austenitic grades are
expected to fail.

4 - FDX - Formable Duplex Stainless Steel

PRE values for some

duplex and austenitic grades

Outokumpu steel name

PRE

FDX 25

25

FDX 27

Table 6

27

LDX 2101

26

2304

26

4307

18

4404

24

CPT, C
30

= less than

25
20
15
10
5
0
FDX 25

FDX 27

LDX 2101

2304

4307

4404

Figure 3. Typical pitting corrosion temperatures (CPT) in 1M NaCl measured

according to ASTM G 150. Test surfaces wet ground to P320 mesh. CPT
varies with product form and surface finish.

Products
Thickness
Cold rolled coil and sheet 0.2 3.7 mm.
Width
Slitted strip from 10 mm up to full coil 1524 mm
Finish
< 0.5 mm, 2R finish (cold rolled, bright annealed).
0.5 3.7 mm, 2E finish (cold rolled, heat treated, mechanically
descaled, pickled).

Product specifications
and approvals

Comparative stress corrosion cracking

resistance in accelerated laboratory tests.
Outokumpu ASTM G 36
steel name 45% MgCl2
155C (b.p.)

Table 7

U-bend

ASTM G 123
25% NaCl,
pH 1.5
106C (b.p.)
U-bend

40% CaCl2
100C
0.9 x Rp0.2
Four-point
bend

FDX 25

Expected

Not anticipated

Not anticipated

FDX 27

Expected

Not anticipated

Not anticipated

LDX 2101

Expected

Not anticipated

Not anticipated

2304

Expected

Not anticipated

Not anticipated

4307

Expected

Expected

Expected

4404

Expected

Expected

Possible

Expected = SCC is expected to occur. Not anticipated = SCC is not expected

to occur. Possible = SCC may occur. b.p. = boiling point

The FDX grades are included in ASTM A240 and work is in progress
for EN standardization.

FDX - Formable Duplex Stainless Steel - 5

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Information given in this brochure may be subject to alterations without notice. Care has been taken to ensure that the contents of this publication are
accurate but Outokumpu and its affiliated companies do not accept responsibility for errors or for information which is found to be misleading. Suggestions for
or descriptions of the end use or application of products or methods of working are for information only and Outokumpu and its affiliated companies accept no
liability in respect thereof. Before using products supplied or manufactured by the company the customer should satisfy himself of their suitability.

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